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Trivia: Musical Terms

Subject : trivia
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. A form of Italian opera beginning at the end of the 19th century. The setting is contemporary to the composer's own time - and the characters are modeled after every day life.






2. Male singers who were castrated to preserve their alto and soprano vocal range.






3. A combination of two or more staves on which all the notes are vertically aligned and performed simultaneously in differing registers and instruments.






4. A chord comprised of three whole tones resulting in an augmented fourth or diminished fifth.






5. Arranging a piece of music for an orchestra. Also - the study of music.






6. Lowest female singing voice.






7. A hymn sung by the choir and congregation often in unison.






8. The technique of altering the tone color of a single note or musical line by changing from one instrument to another in the middle of a note or line.






9. A single line of music played or sung. A musical sentence.






10. Male singers who were castrated to preserve their alto and soprano vocal range.






11. 3 or 4 notes played simultaneously in harmony.






12. A direction in sheet music indicating the tempo is to be very fast.






13. To shift to another key.






14. The frequency of a note determining how high or low it sounds.






15. The retuning of a stringed instrument in order to play notes below the ordinary range of the instrument or to produce an usual tone color.






16. The first section of a movement written in sonata form - introducing the melodies and themes.






17. Eight full tones above the key note where the scale begins and ends.






18. Movement in music where the characteristics are crisp and direct.






19. Short movement or interlude connecting the main parts of the composition.






20. A numeric symbol in sheet music determining the number of beats to a measure.






21. A style of male singing where by partial use of the vocal chords - the voice is able to reach the pitch of a female.






22. A short or brief sonata.






23. The tonal characteristics determined by the relationship of the notes to the tone.






24. The study of forms - history - science - and methods of music.






25. A direction to play lively and fast.






26. Music written to be sung or played in unison.






27. A harmonic given off by a note when it is played.






28. An extended cantata on a sacred subject.






29. A canon where the melody is sung in two or more voices. After the first voice begins - the next voice starts singing after a couple of measures are played in the preceding voice. All parts repeat continuously.






30. Curved line connecting notes to be sung or played as a phrase.






31. The structure of a piece of music.






32. Time in music history ranging from the middle of the 16th to the middle of the 17th centuries. Characterized by emotional - flowery music; written in strict form.






33. Short detached notes - as opposed to legato.






34. The unit of measure where the beats on the lines of the staff are divided up into two - three - four beats to a measure.






35. A symbol indicating the note is to be raised by one semitone.






36. The piece of cane in wind instruments. The players cause vibrations by blowing through it in order to produce sound.






37. Tones used to embellish the principal melodic tone.






38. A sequence of songs - perhaps on a single theme - or with texts by one poet - or having continuos narrative.






39. Singing in unison - texts in a free rhythm. Similar to the rhythm of speech.






40. Atonal and violent style used as a means of evoking heightened emotions and states of mind.






41. A composition written for three voices and instruments performed by three people






42. A melodic or - sometimes a harmonic idea presented in a musical form.






43. A musical composition written solely to improve technique. Often performed for artistic interest.






44. One or more vocalists performing without an accompaniment.






45. The retuning of a stringed instrument in order to play notes below the ordinary range of the instrument or to produce an usual tone color.






46. Combination of two or more keys being played at the same time.






47. Pertaining to the fugue - the overlapping of the same theme or motif by two or more voices a few beats apart.






48. The first tone of a scale also known as a keynote.






49. In sheet music - a symbol at the beginning of the staff defining the pitch of the notes found in that particular staff.






50. Word to indicate that the movement or entire composition is to be played grandly.






Can you answer 50 questions in 15 minutes?



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